S.L. Viehl's Blog, page 27

Sub Op

Sorry I'm so late posting today; I have a lot of catching up to do this week.

Here's an open call from Tanstaafl Press for a trio of Armageddon-themed anthologies: "Stories must be less than 8000 words. Stories considered for Enter the Apocalypse must be stories about the start and / or middle of any type apocalypse. Apocalypse can include (but isn’t limited to) nuclear, epidemic, supernatural, bioweapon, cosmic, aliens, etc. Stories considered for Enter the Aftermath must be stories about the burnout or shortly after any type apocalypse. Stories considered for Enter the Rebirth must be stories about the world coming back to a new stability after any type of apocalypse.

We will accept submissions up until June 15, 2016 for Enter the Apocalypse, Sept 15, 2016 for Enter the Aftermath, and Dec 15, 2016 for Enter the Rebirth.

The Enter… series will pay for each story used in the range of $0.01-0.08 per word (averaging close to $0.03 per word). People who have stories for each of the works accepted with the same world will receive a boost on each consecutive story. An example: Say TANSTAAFL thinks your work is worth 3c per word on your story in …Apocalypse. Then you submit a story from the same world to …Aftermath. Assuming it is accepted you would get 3.5c per word on that story."

For more details, see the submission guidelines here.

Recovering

I'm finally back on my feet, thanks to my very smart doctor and some hefty drugs. The real challenge now is taking it easy this week as I finish up my antibiotics; I'm never very good at that first part. But since I've been almost continuously sick for more than a month now I think I'll make an effort.

After getting over a sickness you want to feel stronger, better and ready to jump right back into your life, don't you? I always envision myself bouncing back like this:



Even when I'm so weak and wrung out I actually feel more like this:



I also have Easter coming at me in less than a week, when I'll have a whole houseful of friends and family visiting. I have a huge dinner to plan, gift baskets to prepare, the house to tidy, etc. So I also feel a bit like this:



Rather than race around like a mad thing trying to catch up on everything I believe I'll prioritize what has to be done and let what doesn't wait. Then it's simply a matter of taking on one thing at a time, get it done at a reasonable pace, and then move on to the next. And ask for help, too.

What's up with you all? Let me know in comments.

Off Again

I'm bailing on you all again today. The upper respiratory infection I thought I had beat came back with a vengeance, and decided to migrate into my ears and throat. I went to see the doc, and he prescribed the horse pill antibiotics and sinus spray, and told me to stay in bed and chug sports drinks. As miserable as I feel, I think this time I will, although tea and lemon and honey is more my sick room beverage.

I'll try to do Just Write tomorrow, but if I'm not feeling well enough you'll see this post instead. Send good thoughts my way if you have a chance; this bug is being very stubborn. See you when I can be vertical again.

Ebéniste mécanicien

I love antique roll top desks, especially ones with hidden compartments, so this video of one at the Met really wowed me. If James Bond had been a cabinet maker, I think he would have wanted David Roentgen to be his Q:

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen Demonstration from Metropolitan Museum of Art on Vimeo.

Wishing You

I'm taking off today to wrap up some work for a client. Celebrate safely!

Image credit: coramueller

Sub Op

Here's an open call for an upcoming SF antho over at Ralan.com: "Tayen Lane is currently reading submissions for our first annual Procyon Science Fiction Anthology. This collection will feature the works of writers from across the world and will span multiple sub-genres within the science fiction genre. Send us your best and most memorable stories. We want work that fascinates, provokes, intrigues.

Writer guidelines:

Submissions are open to writers from all countries; however, the submissions must be in English. The maximum word length of a submission is 7,000 words. Submissions must be unpublished. Please submit short stories as a Microsoft Word document (or PDF), double-spaced and in 12-pt font to scifi2016@tayenlane.com.

Submissions will remain open until 11:59pm PST, Thursday, March 31, 2016. The anthology is edited by Jeanne Thornton and will be published in hardcover in FALL 2016 with subsequent softcover and eBook editions to follow. All chosen contributors will receive $100, two hardcovers, two softcovers, and an eBook. Writers will maintain ownership of all copyrighted material.

We look forward to your submissions for our 2016 Science Fiction Anthology. Thank you for considering Tayen Lane Publishing."

Day Away

While I was off on my one-day vacation over the weekend I took some pics of the lovely animals we saw, as many of them were willing to pose:



I've never taken such a neat shot of a tiger as this.



Okay, not every animal was willing to be photographed.



As swans can be very aggressive I tend to avoid them, but this dark fellow seemed calm and not at all interested in coming after me.



Still working on identifying this guy.



Also got this and several other wonderful shots of my writing animal. It's good to recharge the batteries and refill the well by taking a day away. Now, back to work.

True (or Untrue) Self

Gerard over at The Presurfer linked to an online quiz here that is supposed to reveal your true self. At my age that isn't much of a mystery, but I went ahead and took it anyway. Here are my results:



I had to chuckle over the very exciting life bit. Are writing and quilting and cooking exciting? I must have missed that memo. I'm not especially social, so it is hard for me to connect with people in real life. With my guy, our kids, the dogs and PBW in my life, I'm rarely lonely. As for my heart being broken lots of times, sure, but the alternative is never to love anyone or anything, and that I can't do.

Did you take the quiz? Share your results in comments.

Off to be Mom

I'm taking the day off for a family event. See you tomorrow.

Just Write Saturday

I have family plans for tomorrow, so I'm going to move Just Write to today, and write something new and post it online before midnight. Everyone inclined to do the same is invited to join me.

My link: More on Twenty-One (click on the title to go to the .pdf), with new material beginning on page 67.

For more details on Just Write, click here to go to the original post.